The first thing I do when I land on Mull
each year is visit the ‘silent spectator’. His memorial cairn stands in his favourite
vantage point overlooking the village of Dervaig and its notorious hairpins.
The view overlooks Loch Cuan and the Mornish peninsula and north westwards
towards Coll. When the sun is shining and the sea is blue there are few finer
vistas in all of Scotland. A choice spot.
The cairn was erected to Brian Molyneux by his family and
friends. It was Brian’s vision that saw this quaint 300 sq mile of rockery
become the capital of closed public road rallying in ‘mainland’ UK. Prior to
the introduction of the Act of Parliament in 1990 which enabled this event to
become the mecca of road rallying, the island hosted an annual road rally but
as cars became more sophisticated and speeds increased, closed roads were
essential.
It took over two years and £20,000 to get the Act through
Parliament and although he was greatly aided by family, friends, the 2300 Car
Club team, islanders, and local and national politicians, it was his patience, persistence,
common sense and application that ensured that this vision was to succeed.
I sit on the bench for a chat and share a smoke, not just
because of the rally, but because he inspired me in so many other ways. He is
just one of the reasons I keep coming back.
He was rarely seen without his pipe, hence the chat and the
smoke. I like to believe that it’s not always the sea har, mist or fog, or low
cloud that sweeps down Glen Aros, nor is it peat smoke or wood smoke. I reckon
it’s pipe smoke and I reckon he’s still watching.
There is just one complaint. The bench at the cairn is made
of stainless steel. It’s a bluidy cauld seat even in warm weather! But maybe
that’s deliberate, maybe he doesn’t want folk sitting too long and brooding.
There’s a rally to run. Just give him a nod and say thanks when you’re passing.
No comments:
Post a Comment